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Products Liability Group

Throughout our 40 year history, we have had significant trial experience in complex products liability litigation.

Our products liability attorneys have experience in handling motor vehicle, medical device, asbestos and other toxic tort defense, pharmaceutical, home products, manufacturing equipment, juvenile products and aircraft litigation. Our cases often involve multiple plaintiffs’ and defendants’, complex engineering and design concepts and intricate federal, state and international procedure.

When an accident or emergency arises, we are quick to respond on behalf of our clients. We are also proactive about tracking suits and in some cases, we may know about a products liability suit before our client does. By responding quickly and performing a thorough investigation, we are able to better prepare for or prevent a possible trial and costly litigation.

Our practice group recognizes how products liability cases can financially impact a company. Our experienced litigators take a thorough, yet cost-conscious approach to case preparation. For every case, we provide our clients with an up-front evaluation that informs clients of their chances of success, potential and probable exposure and anticipated costs so they know the risks involved. We are also aware of the long-term effects that a products liability case can have on public perception. We focus on not only winning a case, but on taking steps to avoid future litigation. Our ultimate goal is always to obtain the best resolution for the client and have a thorough defense in preparation to try the case, if necessary.

A few examples of the specific type of matters in which we have represented these clients, include the following:

  • We represented a multi-national manufacturer of heavy industrial equipment in a wrongful death lawsuit brought in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, East St. Louis Division. From the inception of the lawsuit, our client was regarded as the target defendant in this multi-million dollar claim. The allegation was our client improperly selected a backstop for a vertical lift conveyor. After arduous discovery and the deposition of plaintiffs' and co-defendants' experts, we were able to demonstrate the backstop selection was within the specifications provided by the manufacturer. Plaintiffs' focus then switched to the conveyor manufacturer and a failure to provide a mechanical lockout theory. Ultimately, the case was favorably resolved for our client with the conveyor manufacturer paying the lion's share of a settlement.
  • Our team represented an ATV manufacturer in a case brought by a brain-injured plaintiff in St. Clair County, Illinois. The plaintiff's medical bills exceeded $500,000 and plaintiff had significant residual brain injury. The plaintiff claimed the four-wheeled ATV involved was defective as a result of a failure to provide a proper chain guard. The accident vehicle was stolen from plaintiff's attorney mid-course in the litigation. We worked with numerous experts, conducting complex testing that proved the plaintiff's theory wrong. Although the vehicle was no longer available, eventually we were able to demonstrate the vehicle had a bent frame due to a prior accident. Ultimately, the case was settled on behalf of the ATV manufacturer at an amount far below the amount of the plaintiff's medical bills or the amount it would have taken to try the case.
  • We represented recycling equipment manufacturer in a plant explosion case alleging several million dollars in property damage and business loss. Given the facts of the case the federal court allowed a punitive claim to go to the jury. The plaintiffs received one third of their submitted actual damages and the jury denied their punitive claim.
  • Our team represented a worldwide pharmaceutical company in defense of claims that pancreatic enzyme supplements manufactured by one of its foreign subsidiaries were defective causing permanent damage to the gastrointestinal systems of cystic fibrosis patients. We coordinated the cases nationwide and worked with experts worldwide developing defenses to plaintiffs' liability claims. Many of the cases were filed in unfavorable jurisdictions. The disease involved, fibrosing colonopathy, was newly discovered in the early 1990's and, hence, the medical and causation issues involved were cutting edge. Discovery, which we also coordinated on a national basis, was extensive, eventually requiring the development of a document database. Eventually, all of the plaintiffs' claims were successfully resolved.
  • Our team defended a products liability action in Madison County for an overhead crane manufacturer. The plaintiff claimed the crane installed was defective in its cab design and there was a lack of warning devices and intermittent horns. After a long trial, the jury returned a defense verdict for our client.

Services: Products Liability

Construction Litigation

Our team identifies problems and finds solutions before, during and after the construction process. This proactive strategy often times results in saving precious time and keeping litigation costs down.

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Product, Asbestos & Toxic Tort Liability

Our Product Liability attorneys have successfully built a reputation for expertly handling complex product, asbestos, & toxic tort liability. We have experience in handling motor vehicle, medical device, pharmaceutical, home products, manufacturing equipment, juvenile products, aircraft litigation and asbestos and other toxic products. 

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We are your regional partners in litigation, whether we are representing a Fortune 500 company or a local mom and pop shop in a catastrophic products accident or smaller premises cases. Client service is our focus; therefore, we prioritize efficiency, responsiveness, timely communication and creativity from intake up through trial. There will be no surprises when we are working together.

40+
Our number of years of handling complex cases such as: motor vehicle, toxic tort, transportation, medical device, pharmaceutical, aircraft and more.
24/7/365
Our availability for our scene response for all catastrophic cases is 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.
$100,000,000+
The claimed damages we have successfully defended against in six trials in St. Louis City in the last three years alone.

Industries: Products Liability

Automotive

We know and understand the business of our automotive and component manufacturing clients and the industry itself.

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Consumer Products

Our lawyers regularly represent designers, manufacturers and distributors of consumer products such as household appliances, lawn mowers, power tools, consumer electronic devices, and countless products with histories of asbestos components.

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Drugs & Pharmaceuticals

We defend product liability and tort lawsuits involving drugs and pharmaceuticals which include national and regional litigation, multidistrict proceedings and mass torts claims.

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Medical Devices

Our clients look to us for our experience and understanding of their needs to litigate, arbitrate, mediate and appeal product liability disputes and to provide counseling and guidance in everyday regulatory affairs and risk management.

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Transportation

Our practices are founded on a thorough understanding of our trucking and transportation clients’ businesses, as well the complex regulatory structure that governs the industry. We defend commercial transportation litigation matters for clients in the trucking industry and represent international transportation and logistics companies and small local businesses in dealing with all aspects of transportation litigation, including catastrophic personal injury and property damage claims.

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